Michael Boley secretly arrested for child abuse three days after Giants cut linebacker: Report

Former New York Giants linebacker Michael Boley was quietly arrested for child abuse on February 8 — three days after he was cut by the NFL team, reports TMZ.

The 30-year-old Boley — who was a starting linebacker for the Giants Super Bowl XLVI title team — had been under investigation in Alabama for a 2011 incident involving his son, who was five-years-old at the time.  Boley is the father of six children.

Details of the alleged abuse are not specific, but sources told the gossip site that allegations were of a physical nature and NOT sexual abuse.

Court officials in Etowah County, AL told TMZ ... Boley pled guilty to child abuse -- and in exchange, he was ordered to enroll in a pre-trial diversion program and upon completion the charge would be dropped. 

Boley was also required to turn himself into authorities. He was booked on February 8, and apparently smiled for a mug shot before being released from custody later that day. 

It sounds like the Giants got wind of Boley's impending legal troubles when they released him three days before he turned himself in to authorities. But Boley said it was "a bit of a surprise" when general manager Jerry Reese called him February 8 to release the eight-year NFL veteran. After four seasons with the Giants, Boley still had one year left on his five-year, $25 million contract.

"They let me know they’re moving things for the team in a different direction," Boley said back then.

The decision to cut Boley was solely a football decision, according to a source, and the Giants were not aware of any pending charges before he was released.

Boley is currently hunting for a job in the NFL.

A rep for Boley had no comment -- but sources connected to the NFL star told TMZ Boley plans to comply with the terms of the plea deal.

Giants Limp Into Game Against Patriots; No Surgery For Bradshaw

It didn't take long for the New York Giants to turn their practice facility back into a M*A*S*H unit after fielding a full roster for the first time last week. The only good news out of Giants camp today is the news that Ahmad Bradshaw won't need surgery on his broken foot.

The running back is still listed as "doubtful" for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots. 

Joining Bradshaw on the doubtful list are DE Jason Pierre-Paul (concussion), wide-out Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) and center David Baas (knee).

Tom Coughlin updated the condition of Bradshaw's right foot after Friday's practice.

"The doctors felt that it wouldn't be necessary for him to have surgery right now," the head coach said.

He said that Bradshaw might try to play through the injury but it was unlikely the team would take a chance.  Bradshaw played the last eight games of the 2009 season with the same symptoms.

Coughlin said Pierre-Paul would be a game time decision after showing signs of concussed head— the result of getting sandwiched between two helmets during Thursday's practice.

"I didn't think anything of it, and then all of a sudden he was off to the side, didn't feel so good so they shut him right down," said Coughlin.  "He had a headache, so we put him through all the tests for a possible concussion.  We'll see how that goes."

Losing Pierre-Paul would be a huge loss for the Giants pass rush.  He leads the team— and is fifth in the NFL— with 8 1/2 sacks.  His presence was being counted on against the Patriots sniper Tom Brady.

Pierre-Paul and Baas didn't work out at all on Friday.  If Baas can't play expect Kevin Boothe to make his second start of the season.

While those four players probably won't see any action this Sunday, expect four other gimpy players to hit the field.

LB Michael Boley (knee), receiver Mario Manningham (illness), DE Justin Tuck (groin/neck) and Osi Umenyiora (knee) are all listed as probable.

Giants Michael Boley Spikes Football Into Face Of A Fan

Maybe, because it was his first NFL touchdown, New York Giants Michael Boley can be forgiven for performing one of the worst football spikes in recent memory during last night's game.  If the score doesn't leave an imprint in NFL history, the torpedo-like ball left one in some poor fan's face.

Boley, after scooping up a fumbled screen pass to St. Louis Rams running back Cadillac Williams, raced 65 yards to score a second quarter TD then, after the Giants linebacker crossed the goal line, he spiked the ball directly into the face of a fan standing behind the end zone.

It doesn't look like Boley intentionally drilled the ball into the unsuspecting man, but the horizontal toss was a direct hit to the nose and had enough power to ricochet off the guy's face into the back of a cameraman's head.

Boley's first NFL score came after being at the right place at the right time, with the Giants leading 7-6 early in the second quarter, and the defense was struggling.  The Rams were marching to what looked like at least a field goal when Rams QB Sam Bradford threw a screen to Williams in the left flat.

The ball which went backwards slipped through the running back's hands and fell to the ground. Williams made no attempt to grab it, so Boley picked it up and raced down the sideline.

Suddenly the Giants lead was 14-6 and the team went on to a 28-16 win in their home opener at MetLife Stadium.

"The Boley play was big, no question," said Giants coach Tom Coughlin.  "When you score on defense, that's a huge play."

Next time, Boley scores, fans might want to move out of spiking distance.